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The official student news site of Athens Drive High School

ATHENS ORACLE

The official student news site of Athens Drive High School

ATHENS ORACLE

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Researchers link electronic cigarettes to cancer

Researchers at the New York University School of Medicine published an article Jan. 29, 2018 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that shows a link between exposure to electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) smoke and increased risk of cancer.

“We don’t allow any tobacco or nicotine products at this facility including e-cigarettes, so it is all treated the same if it contains nicotine or tobacco it is not allowed here, not to mention that it’s not legal for people under 18, …but if you are using it here, you will be suspended from the team, and if there is repeated use you may be kicked off the team. It is harder to monitor when swimmers are at home or at school but if it is brought into this facility you will be suspended from the team,” said Megan Onstott, coach at Raleigh Swimming Association.

In the study, mice who were exposed to electronic cigarette smoke acquired mutagens in the lung, bladder and heart. The researchers also found that exposure to e-cigarette smoke suppressed the activity of proteins that repair damaged DNA.

Mutagens are substances that cause mutations, changes in the genetic information of an organism. They often do this by causing errors to occur in DNA. It is common for mutagens to be cancer-causing.

“I think it’s not a good idea [to use e-cigarettes] number one because it’s nicotine. Nicotine is addictive, and regardless of whether they’re less harmful to your health than cigarettes or not, they can be a gateway to cigarettes. Starting down that road is not a good idea, especially for athletes. Given how new all that stuff is, and that there is still a lot of research coming out, we don’t know a ton about the long term health benefits of it. I don’t think from a short term or long term perspective it is good for the health of athletes or young people at all,” said Onstott.

Exposure to e-cigarette smoke also caused human cell cultures to mutate more often. The reason e-cigarette smoke has these qualities is that some of the nicotine ingested through the lungs is metabolized in a way that generates mutagenic substances.

“The use of electronic cigarettes is not currently recommended by the American Cancer Society at this time,” said representative of the American Cancer Society (ACS) when asked for a comment in February 2018.

The ACS representative also said that the ingredients of electronic cigarette fluids and their quantities are not labelled, and that the fluids heated by electronic cigarettes release formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

“Sports and smoking should never mix. If my athletes (track runners) are vaping they definitely will reap the consequences. As I mentioned above, I believe vapes still initiate an immune response in the lungs. This inflammation would limit their VO2 max and thus limit cardiac output. I would also say they would be more likely to develop some sort athletic induced asthma due to the mixing,” said Logan Caldwell, biology teacher and track coach at Athens.

According to the research paper published in PNAS, e-cigarette smoke may contribute to lung cancer, bladder cancer and heart disease in humans. VO2 maximum measures the amount of oxygen an athlete can use at one time.

“I think any athlete putting substances into their body not intended for their betterment within the sport they compete is counter productive to their training. Beyond that, putting substances known to be harmful into a person’s body, such as nicotine, is dangerous and reckless for any person to do, especially an athlete,” said Shane Barry, a swim coach and physics teacher at Athens.

Electronic cigarettes are electronic devices that deliver nicotine to the user’s lungs. Some people argue that they are safer than regular tobacco because they lack the byproducts of tobacco combustion. Such byproducts include carbon monoxide and tar.

“Student e-cigarette users seem to have the perception that e-cigarettes are harmless. …nicotine, regardless of how it enters the body will have the potential to impair cognitive development and possibly have lasting effects on cognitive function,” said Caldwell.

There is evidence e-cigarettes are safer than traditional tobacco products. E-cigarettes also increase the likelihood of using tobacco products.

“…Harmful chemicals and heavy metals are found in the aerosols used in vaping. This is due to e-cigs’ largely unregulated use across the United States. Manufacturers…add whatever they want to these liquids, and unknowingly users will continue to vape without thinking twice. Many of these chemicals enter the lungs just like all the stuff found in normal cigarettes. Those chemicals can then lead to an immune reaction, which is when your body senses something foreign and reacts. This type of reaction causes the immune system to initiate an inflammatory response. Ultimately leading to an acute lung inflammation,” said Caldwell.

The use of e-cigarettes among students and student-athletes is discouraged.

“I would frown upon it. Heavily. But every user has a different story on why they started. Unfortunately for most adolescents, it isn’t because they are trying to quit smoking. Instead, they think it’s “cool” so they started vaping. Vaping and running do not mix. And they never will,” said Caldwell.

For current tobacco smokers, e-cigarettes can provide a less dangerous source of nicotine. If electronic cigarette use helps people quit is unclear.

“I think that e-cigarettes do not harm the body as much as cigarettes, but they addict you to something that wastes a lot of your time and life,” said Ibraheem Wahdan, a sophomore at Athens Drive.

People who do not already smoke should avoid e-cigarettes. This is because electronic cigarette liquids contain nicotine, which increases the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes.

“I honestly do not know much about the potential for second-hand vapor. Much like e-cigarettes themselves, there is probably not much research on the vapor they release. All I can say is that you’re adding particulate matter to the surrounding air when releasing vapor in a closed room. If there are harmful metals in that vapor, then there would be a potential for lung and cardiovascular effects for those surrounding. Small amounts of this is not problematic, but long-term exposure should be studied. Unfortunately, the necessary studies need to be longitudinal in order to provide a relevant scope of exposure. I would not be surprised if in a few years there are widespread regulations on where users can vape, just like good ol cigarettes. For now, businesses and organizations will just need to provide their own regulation,” said Caldwell.

The safety of electronic cigarettes is a subject of ongoing research according to the ACS. Per the ACS, flavorings that are added to electronic cigarettes could also be toxic.

“E-cigs are the new thing. I know close friends that smoked in high school and at some point during our college years switched to vaping. They said it was going to help them quit for good. They could moderate how much nicotine they were using. However, three years after college those same friends are still vaping. I think regardless of the reason people start vaping, we need to educate the general public about their potential harmful side effects. This will not happen until substantial peer-reviewed journal articles are published providing the scientific community will clear results. Those scientists have to get paid though, so if the government wants to curb the use of e-cigs they need to fund the research,” said Caldwell.

As of 2015, 37.7 percent of high school students have used an e-cigarette at least once. 16 percent of high school students were actively using e-cigarettes that year. E-cigarettes may have direct consequences for student athletes.

“Any addictive substance you have to be careful with,  especially with you guys where your brains and body are still growing and the more research that comes out… You guys are still growing, your brain still developing your body’s still developing…doesn’t sound like a smart thing to do. Addictive substances and athletes do not really mix, in my opinion,” said Onstott.

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